Elementary Schools in Watsonville, California
Watsonville, California has 25 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 27.8/100 — 15.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Watsonville High at 50/100, where 8.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Watsonville schools average 5.2% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.5% (above the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
How Watsonville schools compare
Watsonville's 25 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 27.8 — 15.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 15.8 to 50.1, a 34.3-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Watsonville High with a Scope Score of 50 and 8.6% of students exceeding standard.
Ceiling effect detected: Watsonville schools average 17.8% meeting standard but only 5.2% exceeding it. Most students clear the bar but few are pushed past it — a pattern worth investigating school by school.
Chronic absenteeism in Watsonville averages 25.5%, which is below the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
Schools in Watsonville ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Score | County | Exceeded | Met+ | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watsonville High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 50 | Santa Cruz | 8.6% | 29.4% | 20.1% | 4.0% |
| 2 | Pajaro Valley High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 49 | Santa Cruz | 5.8% | 24.4% | 26.1% | 3.3% |
| 3 | Diamond Technology Institute Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 45 | Santa Cruz | 13.3% | 36.9% | 25.2% | 3.2% |
| 4 | Linscott Charter Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 38 | Santa Cruz | 11.2% | 35.3% | 17.7% | 0.6% |
| 5 | Alianza Charter Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 38 | Santa Cruz | 12.7% | 35.9% | 21.0% | 1.3% |
| 6 | Watsonville Prep SBE - Watsonville Prep Building Momentum | 33 | Santa Cruz | 12.6% | 34.5% | 18.4% | 1.9% |
| 7 | New School Community Day Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 30 | Santa Cruz | 0.0% | 3.3% | 40.5% | 14.2% |
| 8 | Bradley Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 30 | Santa Cruz | 14.3% | 29.7% | 29.5% | 2.9% |
| 9 | Watsonville Charter School of the Arts Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 29 | Santa Cruz | 5.2% | 24.5% | 20.2% | 1.2% |
| 10 | Ohlone Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 26 | Santa Cruz | 4.3% | 13.8% | 25.2% | 0.6% |
| 11 | Calabasas Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 26 | Santa Cruz | 3.5% | 15.2% | 23.4% | 0.5% |
| 12 | Rolling Hills Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 26 | Santa Cruz | 2.2% | 13.3% | 15.7% | 7.6% |
| 13 | Starlight Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 25 | Santa Cruz | 7.8% | 23.9% | 25.5% | 0.6% |
| 14 | H. A. Hyde Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 25 | Santa Cruz | 4.4% | 14.5% | 27.5% | 1.6% |
| 15 | Landmark Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 24 | Santa Cruz | 2.6% | 11.6% | 27.2% | 3.5% |
| 16 | Ann Soldo Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 24 | Santa Cruz | 3.5% | 13.9% | 27.7% | 0.8% |
| 17 | Hall District Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 24 | Santa Cruz | 2.6% | 9.0% | 20.2% | 2.0% |
| 18 | Radcliff Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 22 | Santa Cruz | 2.1% | 8.5% | 20.8% | 3.6% |
| 19 | Amesti Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 21 | Santa Cruz | 2.5% | 9.2% | 30.9% | 1.7% |
| 20 | T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 20 | Santa Cruz | 1.9% | 7.4% | 29.2% | 3.1% |
| 21 | Pajaro Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 20 | Santa Cruz | 2.9% | 12.8% | 20.7% | 8.7% |
| 22 | Mintie White Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 19 | Santa Cruz | 2.2% | 10.3% | 28.3% | 2.5% |
| 23 | Cesar E. Chavez Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 18 | Santa Cruz | 1.6% | 11.5% | 33.1% | 1.5% |
| 24 | E. A. Hall Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 17 | Santa Cruz | 1.0% | 6.3% | 32.6% | 11.7% |
| 25 | Lakeview Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 16 | Santa Cruz | 2.0% | 10.2% | 30.4% | 16.3% |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in Watsonville
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Watsonville
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology
Frequently asked questions
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